Handler Error, The other end of the leash... Options

[ChicagoK9s]

Does anyone have any tips for improving MY agility skills (not my dog's)?

I am somewhat clumsy and when I am doing run-throughs I tend to get nervous or flustered and the I forget the course layout or make handling mistakes. I also have a poor memory for agility courses and I am afraid when I start competing I am going to mess up the order of obstacles a lot!

I am currently taking a "foundation" agility class where a lot of flat work is done and handling skills are taught but I am not sure what to do about my clumsiness and mistakes.

[Administrator Mr...]

Clumsiness - Webb Anderson has a great video out that may help - it is focused on improving handler hand-eye coordination and footwork:

http://www.agilek9path.com/index.php?page=...&Itemid=107

If you ascribe to his handling system, then Greg Derrett's 2nd and 3rd video are also of help as he does a lot of box handling drills that focus on the handler's timing and footwork.

My other advice is the same advice I would give if you were concerned about your own dog's prep - do lots of matches and practice running courses outside of competition. Per what I wrote about Greg - I also do a LOT of box drills - sort of like practicing scales on the piano. If you are well drilled, you wont have to think about how to perform a cross, so that will reduce the amount of things you need to think about when you are out there on course "for real" - so then the time can be spent focusing on the course and remembering it!

[CallaLily]

I have found that a sense of humor helps a lot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) When I "walk" a course during class I know that I am bound to make mistakes and I no longer stress out about it. When I give myself permission to make mistakes then I relax and when I am relaxed I end up having a lot of fun and am able to better remember the course.

When I think back on when I moved from the first training school to the second I didn't think I would ever be able to do more than 3 obstacles. The first school only had room for 3 at any given time. The second school had room for 20+ obstacles in each of it's two areas.

We are now at our 3rd training school where we can be inside all year round and it is great! With each class the course may have up to 3 different colored cones each with different numbers with 20+ obstacles, meaning that that one course will be different depending on which colored cones we are doing. It is not uncommon to run those three different colors/courses in any given class and each night of class the course has been set up in a different configuration.

We've run so many courses now that I am amazed at what I can now remember....and if I can't I just look for the right colored cone and read its number...laughing when I mess up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Anthea]

I have seen the most experienced handlers make mistakes and loose their way around a course. Most of them laugh. The best advice I can give you is to accept that we all make mistakes on the course. Don't beat yourself up about it, just remember you are there to have fin with your dog. And things do get better with time and practise.

[loralei913]

If your biggest challenge is remembering courses, practice running courses without your dog. If you don't have room or enough equipment at home for a full course, draw one on paper. After designing your paper course, draw it without numbers and practice tracing either the dog or handler path (whichever seems to help you remember the course best) until you can do it smoothly without having to stop and think. Visualize yourself running it as you're tracing the path. Another game you can play to help develop your memory at home while working with your dog at home is to write down 10-15 tricks/commands on a piece of paper and try to memorize them in order. Then see if you can go through them with your dog without having to stop and think about what comes next. If you do rally with your dog, you can try to do a whole rally course without signs or cones.

I was lucky to have come from a child hood of horse back riding lessons, and jumping courses are never numbered there, so I learned memorization skills fairly early. Memorizing courses does come fairly easily for me. That being said, I still do make mistakes and forget where I'm going. If I think I'm going to get confused at a certain point, I'll make a note of where the numbered cone is so when I get to that point, I know which number I am looking for. You can't successfully run a course looking at every number, but I find if I know exactly what number cone I'm looking for, I can sneak a peek every now and then without anyone, including my dog, being the wiser. When you do realize you don't know where you're going, whatever you do, don't stop to look around! This disconnects you from your dog and is very demotivating for them. I've seen many class mates discourage their dogs from running because in the middle of a really fantastic run where everything is clicking they suddenly stop, disconnect from the dog and try to figure out where the course goes next. The dog learns that the handler will randomly "punish" them for running well so learn not to bother running fast. If you get lost, it's better to do something, praise your dog, and restart from where you got lost. It keeps the connection much better. When you are actually running a course with your dog is NOT the time to develop your memorization skills.

[Flying Bichon]

When you do realize you don't know where you're going, whatever you do, don't stop to look around! This disconnects you from your dog and is very demotivating for them. I've seen many class mates discourage their dogs from running because in the middle of a really fantastic run where everything is clicking they suddenly stop, disconnect from the dog and try to figure out where the course goes next. The dog learns that the handler will randomly "punish" them for running well so learn not to bother running fast. If you get lost, it's better to do something, praise your dog, and restart from where you got lost. It keeps the connection much better. When you are actually running a course with your dog is NOT the time to develop your memorization skills.

As I was reading this thread this was the point I was going to make. Thanks Lora

Never, ever give up on your dog on course. We all get lost from time to time, or send our dog to the wrong obstacle even on accident. They don't realize it is your fault not theirs. This could severely damage the dog handler relationship if done repeatedly. If I send Mulligan off course I always praise him and try to stay upbeat. Even though Mulligan is not a "soft" dog he hates it when I correct something and it was my fault...he always seems to know it was me and will bark at me LOL!! The only time he barks doing agility, little bugger. Another good idea if you get lost and you have treats or a toy available have an impromptu party, and then figure out where you were going. I definitely make more mistakes then my dog. After a while you will learn to laugh it off.

[Pistolpetesmum]

LOL, you mean there are people who actually run a course without looking at every number??!!!! I remember early on in trials where I was running a snooker course. I was so hopelessly lost & confused. I came to a dead stop, looked at the Judge (Lee Ann Z.) and told her that I didnt know where the h*** I was. She smiled and said to just keep running around and head for the finish line!! It was a good lesson she taught me, I never did that again. You do get better with more & more experience...it will come to you!!

[ChicagoK9s]

LOL, you mean there are people who actually run a course without looking at every number??!!!! I remember early on in trials where I was running a snooker course. I was so hopelessly lost & confused. I came to a dead stop, looked at the Judge (Lee Ann Z.) and told her that I didnt know where the h*** I was. She smiled and said to just keep running around and head for the finish line!! It was a good lesson she taught me, I never did that again. You do get better with more & more experience...it will come to you!!

I just saw a video of a snooker course for the first time... I had no idea what was going on! I mean I know how it is supposed to work but the order made no sense to me. I don't know if I will ever run one of those, too scary!

[MeNMy3Dogs]

My new motto that I say to Huck frequently, LOL "Huckie I suckie", LOL a sense of humor and not taking it so seriously helps alot, go have fun with your dog and do the best you can, that is all you can do.

[Anthea]

My new motto that I say to Huck frequently, LOL "Huckie I suckie", LOL a sense of humor and not taking it so seriously helps alot, go have fun with your dog and do the best you can, that is all you can do.

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